Eryngium plant named ‘Sunny Jackpot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Eryngium  plant named ‘Sunny Jackpot’, characterized by its upright and inverted triangular plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; green and yellow green variegated foliage; and flower heads with green and blue-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Eryngium planum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunny Jackpot’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Eryngium plant, botanically known as Eryngium planum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunny Jackpot’.

The new Eryngium was discovered by the Inventors in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, in July, 2005, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Eryngium planum cultivar Blue Dream, not patented. The new Eryngium was observed as a single plant from within a population of plants of the cultivar Blue Dream. The selection of this plant was based on its unique variegated foliage.

Asexual reproduction of the new Eryngium by cuttings in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands since July, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Eryngium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunny Jackpot has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Jackpot’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunny Jackpot’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Eryngium:

-   -   1. Upright and inverted triangular plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Green and yellow green variegated foliage.     -   4. Flower heads with green and blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Eryngium differ from plants of the parent, the cultivar Blue Dream, primarily in foliage color as plants of the cultivar Blue Dream have solid green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Eryngium can also be compared to plants of the Eryngium planum cultivar Blue Dwarf, not patented. Plants of the new Eryngium differ from plants of the cultivar Blue Dwarf primarily in foliage color as plants of the cultivar Blue Dwarf have solid green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Eryngium. The photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Eryngium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunny Jackpot’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Sunny Jackpot’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Sunny Jackpot’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands during the late summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Eryngium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 13° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about one year old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Eryngium planum cultivar Sunny Jackpot. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Eryngium     planum cultivar Blue Dream, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 80 days at 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months at             18° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy and thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             inverted triangular plant habit. Moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 58 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 26.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.9 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Aspect: Mostly upright to slightly outward.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 91A to             91C; towards the base, 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length, upper leaves.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Length, lower leaves.—About 6.9 cm.         -   Width, upper leaves.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Width, lower leaves.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Shape, upper leaves.—Palmately lobed.         -   Shape, lower leaves.—Ovate to obovate.         -   Apex, upper and lower leaves.—Mucronulate.         -   Base, upper leaves.—Hastate.         -   Base, lower leaves.—Cordate.         -   Margin, upper leaves.—Serrate.         -   Margin, lower leaves.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower leaves, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery.         -   Venation pattern, upper and lower leaves.—Pinnate.         -   Color, upper and lower leaves.—Developing foliage, upper             surface: 143A to 143B; towards the margins, between 149B and             150B. Developing foliage, lower surface: 143C to 143D;             towards the margins, between 150C and 154C. Fully expanded             foliage, upper surface: 143A; towards the margins, 150C to             150D; venation, 138C. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:             143B to 143C; towards the margins, between 150C to 150D and             154C to 154D; venation, 138C.         -   Petioles (only on lower leaves, upper leaves are             sessile).—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 138B to 138C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged             on conical flower heads; flowers sessile. Inflorescences             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 100 flowers developing per inflorescence. Flowers             persistent. Flowers face upright and outwardly. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Eryngium             initiate and develop flowers during the late summer and             flower continuously from August through October in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 6 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Obovate. Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Color: 145B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute; recurved. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: 145D. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: 91A; towards the base, 145B; color becoming closer             to 93B with development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals in a single whorl. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: 137C; towards the base, 144C to 144D. Color,             mature, upper surface: 137C; towards the base, 144C to 144D.             Color, mature, lower surface: 137B.         -   Inflorescence bracts.—Arrangement: About 14 bracts in a             single whorl subtending the flower head. Length: About             2.8 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature,             upper and lower surfaces: 96C to 96D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Main peduncle, about 5° from vertical; lateral             peduncles, about 35° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 90C to 90D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             four per flower. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: 161D. Filament length: About 2.5 mm.             Filament color: 91A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 156D. Pistils: Quantity: About three per flower.             Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style length: About 2.8 mm. Style             color: 91D; towards the base, 91B. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: 91D. Ovary color: 144B to 144C. Fruits/seeds:             Fruit and seed development have not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Eryngium have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Eryngium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Eryngium have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind, have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about −20° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Eryngium plant named ‘Sunny Jackpot’ as illustrated and described. 